May 2011 Newsletter

Kingsley Park Working Men's Club.

May Newsletter.

Editor Matt Wright.
Email m.wright@ntlworld.com
The Kingsley Blog
http://kingsleyparkwmc.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/kingsley.parkwmc

Kingsley Park Working Men’s Club and Institute
120 Kingsley Park Terrace, Kingsley, Northampton, NN2 7HJ
Club Phone No’s
Steward 715514
Secretary 719800
Email Secretary barryslasberg@kingsleyparkwmc.co.uk

Life Members Outing.

On Saturday 25th June our annual outing to Stratford-Upon-Avon will take place. The program this year is;
9.00 depart Kingsley. 10.30 arrive Embassy SC.
17.00 leave Embassy SC. 19.00 arrive Kingsley.
Tickets at £5.00 (refundable on day of trip) are available from John or from behind the bar from April 1st. Most of the seats have been taken; book yours now to avoid disappointment.

Clubs support the CIU.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Working Men's Club & Institute Union in Blackpool on 9th April, clubs showed massive support for the CIU to an extent not seen in decades.

There were two guest speakers. Firstly Simon Clark of Save our Pubs and Clubs spoke very persuasively on his belief that our clubs are an extension of our homes and should be free from Government interference. He did stress the need for support from clubs in challenging MP's and getting them to join the all-party parliamentary group for non-profit making clubs.

Then our own Northampton MP, Brian Binley spoke passionately of his involvement with and belief in our movement. Brian is a Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group and has been involved in our clubs since his childhood, his father also being a committed clubman.

The General Secretary Mick McGlasham gave a detailed report of the work of the CIU and the commitment of both himself and his staff to do everything in their power to support our clubs.

The Notices of motion discussed at the meeting were all based around raising funds for the movement to erase a deficit running at around £800k per year on our internal trading. It would not be overstating the point to say that the support shown by clubs was astounding. Out of four motions addressed only one delegate stood up to argue against just one of the motions.

The only motion that required a counting of the vote was the motion to put the Pass Card up to £3.50 including VAT from £2.55 plus VAT. With the different VAT treatment this is an increase to the CIU of only 36 pence. 439 voted in favour and 210 against. Well over the 2/3rds majority required.

The effect of this motion is that next year the subscriptions will increase by 50 pence, which is to reflect the Pass Card increase only.

The club will have to pay an extra £500 or £600 but this will be covered by the extra subscriptions that our women members have had to pay in compliance with the Equality Act.

It was sad to see only 640+ delegates at the meeting, much of which can be put down to club closures and the continuing hard times made so much harder by our Government.

The overwhelming support of the clubs that did attend will linger in the memories of all who attended for some time.


Bar Prices

You will all be aware that our beloved Chancellor has once again put the boot in to our clubs with his punitive increase in duty through the last budget.

We should be clear that this is not a party political statement as Chancellors of every political persuasion seem bent on killing the decent social life afforded through our clubs under the guise of fighting binge drinking. This excuse has put thousands of people out of work, stifled genuine Social activity outside the home and closed down literally thousands of decent meeting places throughout the country.

Your committee has put off the increase for one month, but must regretfully put 5 pence on every alcoholic drink with effect from 1st May.

Please let your local member of parliament know what you think of parliaments wanton destruction of the social fabric of your life.

If enough of you want to make your voice heard we could invite our local MP Michael Ellis to the club for a chat with you. Let the Secretary know if you are interested.


Good News and Bad

It has taken 5 years but, through the CIU who have supported all clubs in this matter, we have received a refund of VAT in the sum of £34681.34 including interest.

HMRC have fought hard but have been soundly beaten in two appeals and decided to pay up.

The sting in the tail is that they have said they are to fight on and if they win, in maybe another 5 years they will want repayment within 30 days or they will charge interest from the day they paid us. As a point of interest, I am told that most commentators do not think they have much of a chance of winning

So they have given us all this money and said we spend any of it at our peril.

This is typical of the big brother attitude they have. They smile and spend probably tens of thousands on TV ads. Behind the smiles lie threats and intimidation. This is the way they work.

Ten years ago they tried to get us to pay over £18000 they knew was not due. They played on our ignorance but did not count on the spirit of the Working Men's Club. Eighteen months of intimidation ended in an apology and a refund of our expenses. How many clubs pay over because
they are told they must, but are ignorant of the fact that the money is not due.

We are now faced with fines for almost any wrongdoing. Someone has to pay for the inefficiency and incompetence of HMRC. It should be their bosses and not us!

As a member of the National Executive, I will be fighting to put the "Service" back into civil service. Indeed a bit of the "civil" would not hurt either.

What do you think?

Barry Slasberg

Children’s Outing.

Following from the last newsletter, the Secretary had a response from one member who would be willing to pay for his four grandchildren to go on an outing.

Because of this almost universal lack of response, we regret that there will be no children's outing again this year.

If the improving trend of 2010 continues into 2011 we do hope to be able to reintroduce the outing in 2012. A vital part of this recovery is the continued support and patronage of our members using their club as their venue of first choice when thinking of a night or lunch time out.

So, let us know what you would like to see happening in the club that would make a visit a pleasure for you.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated. We still have a suggestion box in the main bar, or you can talk to any member of the Committee or the Secretary who will ensure every serious suggestion is considered.



Thank You Letter.

The club has received a letter of thanks for the £1,100 you raised in memory of John Collins in support of Macmillan Cancer for the Macmillan Haematology Suite at Northampton General Hospital.


Obituaries.


It is with sadness that we have to announce the deaths of J D Wooliscroft, Charlie Wright, Derek Burditt and Kevin Donnelly. Our thoughts are with their families and friends.

Decorations.


As some of you may have noticed, we have had the ceilings painted. Over the next few weeks we will be wallpapering and painting the concert room and painting the long corridor.
We hope that the members appreciate our efforts and remember that it is their club and report any petty vandalism.

Welfare Payout.

The June 2011 Welfare Payout will be made to qualifying members on Fridays between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm and Sundays between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm during June, commencing on Sunday 6th June 2011.

Thank You Louise and Paul.

It is with regret that we will be saying thank you and farewell to Louise
and Paul Pink as employees from 9th May. They have both done sterling work on our behalf since Sarah went on maternity leave but have decided that the commitment is just that bit too much to stay until the end of July. We are pleased to say they will still be a part of the club as members and look forward to their company for the rest of their natural as the saying goes.

Welcome Martin.

It is with pleasure that we announce that Martin Moss is taking over as
temporary Steward with effect from 9th May until the end of Sarah's
maternity leave. Martin is standing down from the Committee to fulfil this vital function. Perhaps a little selfishly, we wish Martin every success in this role.

Committee Vacancies.

We now have two casual vacancies on the Committee. Volunteers are sought from any of the membership, men or women, who have not joined the club this year. Please contact the Secretary for details.


Games News.

Congratulations to Les Page and Trina Birch for winning the NWMC ladies darts league pairs.



Kingsley Blitz Night.

On Saturday 21st May 7.30 t0 11.30. Nostalgic 1940’s sing along.
Bangers & Mash. 1940’s dress. In aid of The Royal British Legion.
Adults £6.50 Children £4.00 price includes a donation to the British Legion.


May Entertainment.

Sunday 1st Krys 50’s& 60’s Group
Monday 2nd The Two Sides of Gary Vocalist
Wednesday 4th Bluegrass Jam Session
Friday 6th Sarah Quinn Vocalist
Saturday 7th Caught in the Act Group
Sunday 8th Christal Duo
Friday 13th Jasmine Allen Group
Saturday 14th 2 Tones Group
Sunday 15th Rik King Vocalist
Friday 20th Jamie D Vocalist
Saturday 21st Physical Party Band
Sunday 22nd Jamie Lee Vocalist
Friday 27th Ricky Swann Vocalist
Saturday 28th Silhouettes 50’s – 70’s Group
Sunday 29th Lee Richards Vocalist

Bingo every Friday & Sunday plus Mondays 2nd & 30th.
BH Quiz Night every Wednesday.